Pool game table



Feb. 22, 1949.

5. H. AMGNAIR POOL GAME TABLE Filed April 2V, 1946 Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES TNT OFFICE POOL GAME TABLE Samuel H. McNair, Philadelphia, Pa. Application April 2, 1946, Serial No. 659,069

1 Claim. l

The present invention relates to games and is more particularly concerned with a portable apparatus for playing a pool game while seated around the pool table.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an interesting game of pool played with a special playing apparatus adapted to rest on any suitable level base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which will permit the players to remain seated.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel scoring and ball retrieving means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable game set of simple and low cost construction.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in View the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a top plan View of the game table showing the passage-ways or ball alleys and plane stage between top and bottom in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device showing the central plane stage and inclined ball alleys in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the pistol cue.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of same, and

Figure 5 is a frame for setting up the pool balls in pyramidal formation.

Like numerals are used in the description and drawing, and designate the same structural parts of the invention.

The portable box-like game table as illustrated is preferably rectangular and made of any suitable light and durable material. It comprises a square top It and bottom Il, joined by four oblong sides I2 which are fastened together at the corners by angle plates I3. The sides are relatively narrow. The top is cut away at the corners to form apertures I4 to serve as ball pockets and is covered with suitable cloth to provide a playing surface as in ordinary billiard and pool tables.

The sides I2 extend above the playing surface a sufficient distance to form a ball rail and a rubber strip I5 extends around the inside of this rectangular rail to form a ball cushion. Between the top and bottom of the table and positioned centrally is a relatively small square member or stage I6 with a plane surface whose outline is in parallelism with the contour of the game table. When the table is in use both the playing sur- 2 face and this small square surface of the stage are designed to be level. Rubber buttons are provided on the bottom II to prevent slipping and the marring ofv polished surfaces.

Extending downwardly from the sides and in close proximity to the underside of pocket I4 and aligned with the corner of stage I6, is an inclined passage-way I'I Ato serve as an alley to direct the pool balls to the said center stage.

On both sides of the alley are metallic strips I8 serving as guides and containing rails for balls which drop into the pocket I4.

Between said angularly disposed alleys and running from the level stage I6 are downwardly inclined passage-ways or alleys I9 which lead to arcuate openings 20 in the sides I2 of the table, approximately midway thereof. These apertures are provided for the players to retrieve balls which, under the rules of the game, are to be counted by them. Each of said alleys is provided with strips 2|, to guide and contain pool balls, as in the case of the alleys I'l, and an opening 20 with a strip ZIl--a across the bottom to serve as a ball stop.

An ordinary triangular ball frame 22 is provided to set up the balls 23 in pyramidal form, as shown in Figure 1, and there are fifteen besides a cue ball, numbered consecutively from 1 to 15.

A gun is provided for use instead of a cue in playing games with this device, thus permitting players to sit around the table and make their shots from sitting position.

The gun is in the form of a lpistol 24 with a handle 25 and barrel 26 integrally constructed and provided with a longitudinal bore 21 extending lthrough same and enlarged in diameter from the rear to a suitable distance therefrom, as at 28.

One side of the enlargement is exposed for a suitable distance by a longitudinal slot 29 and a closure plate 3l! is attached. Plate 30 is provided with a longitudinal slot for the reception of a trigger 3| which is threaded at its inner end to a slidable head 32 on the inner end of the rod 33 which extends beyond the end of barrel 26 and serves as a cue.

A coil spring 34 is contained in the enlarged portion of the pistol bore between the slidable head 32 and a plug in the handle end of the enlargement. This spring is adapted to be compressed by the head when the trigger is moved backward. The bottom edge of the slot in plate 3l] is notched, as at 35, to set the trigger at several tension points and the cue 33 being rotatable, the shank of the trigger pin is released from the notches by an upward i'lip of same by a players thumb, thus allowing the spring to expand and impel the head 32 of the cue forwardly with a movement akin to that of a wrist in the use of a cue. Forward movement of cue 33 is limited by contact of the head 32 with the annular shoulder which is formed Where the bore enlargement ends.

In operation, the players may play the ordinary game of fteen ball pool and many others. They seat themselves around the game device, which has been set on a level base, and then, in order,y

roll the cue ball with the pistol-cue, one being provided for each player if desired. The object is to put a numerically marked ball in one ofthe corner pockets. When this is done the ball runs down one of the inclined alleys to the central stage l. The direction of the ball therefrom is, by chance, te anyone of the inclined lateral alleys I9 to aside of the game table, it then appearing at the opening 2e. The lucky player is given the number of pool points on the ball. If so planned, the player may continue to shoot until he fails to pocket a ball, as in ordinary pool, when the next player in turn tries his skill and luck.

As diierent embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and modications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it'will be understood that the matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative merely, and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

A table for pool games comprising a at, rectangular top having cut-away corners to provide ball pockets, a flat bottom spaced from said top and substantially parallel thereto, four sides extending from said bottom above said top to provide a ball rail around the top, said sides being substantially perpendicular to said top and said bottom and each having an opening therein substantially at its mid-length location adjacent said bottom, a xed rectangular stage disposed between said top and bottom substantially parallel thereto and substantially equally spaced from each of said sides, a respective inclined passageway leading from each cut-away corner of said top to said stage and a respective inclined passageway leading from said stage to each of said side openings.`

SAMUEL H. MCNAIR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS y Number Name Date 857,057 Haskell June 18, 1907 1,368,875 Adams Feb, 15, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 772,222 France Oct. 25, 1934 

